Category: Indian Fairs and Festivals

Kumbhalgarh Festival, one of the most important and culturally enriching festival brings India’s finest performers at one place. Simply mesmerizing!

Kumbhalgarh Festival, one of the most important and culturally enriching festival is celebrated on the highest peak of the Aravalli Hills. The festival has been celebrated in full swing for the past 6 centuries. The festival takes place on top of the Kumbhalgarh Fort. The fort is at a height of 1014 meters above sea level. The fort is located on the west of the Aravalli Hills in the district of Rajsamand, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The closest commercial hub to Kumbhalgarh is Udaipur. Udaipur is about 88 km away from the fort.

Kumbhalgarh is named after its creator Maharana Kumbha who was a great promoter of Indian martial and fine arts, architecture and learning. The fort is also a World Heritage Site. It is a magnificent Mewar fortress. The basic purpose to build this medieval fort was to protect the kingdom from invaders.

Kumbhalgarh Classical Dance Festival is the place where India’s finest classical musician, artists, and renowned dancers assemble and give their best performances. Among the highlights of this festival includes the dance performance by local artists which get full encouraged by the audience as well. Some games like musical chairs and tug of war are also organized for young children.

Here you will get to witness the fort like never before. It is well-lit and full of locals and tourists. Some of India’s finest performers sing and dance to classical tunes. It makes you feel as if you are in an old Indian fairy tale. The festival showcases young men circling and dancing to enchanting beats of enormous drums. On the other hand young girls form another circle and sing folk songs while each other with colored water. The entire scenario is lively and joyful.

If you want to see the best of Indian culture, classical music and dancing, then you must visit the Kumbhalgarh Festival. It will leave you in awe and you would want to go back.

The feast continues and many rituals and specific arrangements that are made until the last day of the feast which is the feast cleansing day.

Celebrated by the Pochury tribe of Nagaland, Yemshe Festival is a harvest festival which starts from the last week of September to the first week of October where all the Pouchuries come together to celebrate the year’s hard work with fun and frolic. The village spokesman announces the arrival of the Yemshe festival after which the arrangements and festivities begin.

The head of the family perform the rituals of the Yemshe Festival whose materials are then fastened to the entrance of each house. Couples exchange gifts and indulge in feasts and wine. This is called the Big Yemshe when people get to know each other and also get engaged.

The celebration of the Yemshe with rituals is called the small Yemshe when a rich family hosts the ritual Purification feast. The feast continues and there are a number of rituals and specific arrangements that are made until the last day of the feast which is the feast cleansing day.

The final and last day the refinement feast is observed and it is compulsory for the people to stay at home and enjoy it. After that, the agricultural tasks begins from the next day.

Bundi is a picturesque location in the Hadoti district of Rajasthan. The palaces and forts of Bundi have a fairy tale feel about them.The town is quite isolated from the maddening rush and crowd of adjoining cities and thus at times appears like a beautiful frozen painting.

The Bundi Festival is celebrated in the month of Kartik (October-November) and includes several spiritual and traditional activities. It is a remarkable cluster of traditional art, culture and craftsmanship and visitors are left charmed by its magnificence.

The Aravalli range dotted with forts and palaces gives you a fairytale feeling during your India travel. The Bundi Utsav is not only a major occasion in the state but also an important festival of India. The otherwise isolated town becomes a bustling one with the Utsav date approaching. This festival in Rajasthan is integral to the month of November.

Bundi Festival Date – 06 – 08 November 2017

The program includes a colorful Shobha Yatra, arts & crafts fair, ethnic sports, cultural exhibition, classical music & dance program, turban competitions, bridal clothing, musical band competitions, and a sparkling fireworks display. Early in the morning, after the full moon night of Kartik Purnima, women and men clad in attractive colorful costumes light diyas or lamps on the banks of River Chambal and seek blessings.

Even outside the festival dates, for any traveler who is passing through southern Rajasthan, Bundi is a great halt, as it has great heritage hotels and traditional Havelis to offer along with affordable delicious Rajasthani cuisine.

Before you attend the festival, book comfortable and hassle-free travel plans with us to enjoy the natural blessings and explore more of Rajasthan. Browse through our collection of Rajasthan tour packages.

Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival, performed as thanksgiving to Sun, God for sustaining life on earth and granting Health, Prosperity & Abundance

The festival of worshipping and offering extols to the sun, Chhath Puja, is an ancient Hindu celebration rejoiced from the prehistoric Vedic times.It is celebrated to show gratefulness to the sun for supporting life on earth.

According to the chronicles, the kings of ancient North India invited Maga Purohits as they were highly proficient in worshipping the sun. Since this worshipping, the Chhath Puja was started.

Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival, that is performed as thanksgiving to Surya – The Sun God for sustaining life on earth and granting Health, Prosperity & Abundance. According to Hindu traditions, the sun god ‘Surya’ is the supreme deity which represents will-power, fame, the eyes, general vitality, courage and kingship. Unlike other Hindu Poojas which involve idol worship, this festival is dedicated to worshipping a natural phenomenon which is, in fact, the life force of our planet.

This puja first finds mention in the Rig Veda which contains hymns worshiping the Sun God and describes similar rituals.

On the day before the festival of Chhath Puja, people gather on the banks of the River Ganges and freshen themselves. The whole family is fed with freshly reaped rice, puris, bananas, coconut, and grapefruit. On the second day of the Chhath Puja, a 24-hour fast is strictly observed, even water cannot be consumed. The senior women of the household cleanse all the cooking utensils which are necessary for the main part of celebrating Chhath Puja.

Time of Celebration:

The festival of Chhath Puja takes place during the months of October and November, immediately after the festival of Diwali. The Chhath Puja lasts for one night and one day.

You cannot miss the opportunity to visit Chandrabhaga fair, during your trip to Rajasthan. This fair is a rare mix of trade and festivity.

Every year, the Chandrabhaga Fair in Rajasthan welcomes thousands of visitors and participants from all over the nation. It is held at Jhalrapatan, situated at a distance of about six kilometers from Jhalawar, in the month of Kartik (October and November). This year dates are 03/11/2017 – 05/11/2017. This fair attracts travelers, pilgrims and explorers alike with rituals and traditions practiced in this region. A lot of pilgrims assemble on the banks of river Chandrabhaga during the fair and participate in this gala event.

The festival, named after the river Chrandrabhaga, is considered very sacred by the people of Rajasthan. People travel from far just for a dip in the river as they believe this will purify their souls. A huge cattle fair is also organized here, where livestock such as cows, horses, buffaloes, camels, and bullocks are purchased from various parts for resale. The fair includes several spiritual and traditional activities. During the fair, the Department of Tourism organizes activities over a course of 3 days like traditional Deepdan, Shobha Yatra, and various competitions as well as cultural evenings.

You cannot miss the opportunity to visit Chandrabhaga fair, during your trip to the city. This fair is a rare mix of trade and festivity. Folk music mesmerizes everyone and colorful art & crafts are best to shop in the fair. Competitions like Matka race, Tug of War, Turban Tying, Rangoli Making, Cattle competitions, Moustache Competition are best for fun.

While you visit this fair you can also explore other tourist attractions nearby as Jhalawar is a relatively small town and easy enough to get around on foot, but there are plenty of auto – rickshaws, cycles – rickshaws and Tongas.

Tourist Attractions:

Following is a list of major tourist hotspots of the region that are worth a visit:

Jhalawar Fort

Bhawani Natyashala

Government Museum

Chandrabhaga Temple

Gagron Fort

Bhimsagar

Fort Of Gangadhar

Kakuni

Rein Basera

Dalhanpur

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MATSYA FESTIVAL is renowned for its colorful processions, cultural performances, an array of sporting events and impressive artistic exhibitions.

Dates: 25th November to 26th November

The Matsya festival of Alwar held in November over two days is the foremost of all fairs and festivals of Rajasthan. It is celebrated to glorify the prosperity, traditional values and colorful customs of the region. This festival is renowned for its colorful processions, cultural performances, an array of sporting events and impressive artistic exhibitions. The magnificence of Alwar’s numerous palaces and forts, lakes, hunting lodges, archaeological sites and thick forests, make it a delightful setting for a flamboyant celebration.

Matsya Festival – The Pride of Alwar

The two-day Matsya festival includes many adventure sports such as parasailing, hot air ballooning and zorbelling ball. An exciting and adventure-filled army exhibition is part of the festivities and is usually held at the Company Bagh venue. Health enthusiasts can take advantage of the yoga camp which is a part of the festival and organized in the morning hours at the same venue as Army exhibition. People from all over the Rajasthan as well as outside come to attend this unique festival in Alwar. The Matsya festival is believed as a festival to show respect to the forefathers and their culture.

Traditional Games Are Played with Gusto by Locals

Rumal Jhappatta’ is a sport in which players have to show their speed skills in grabbing a handkerchief(rumal) kept on the ground before the other team does. Rassa Kassi is the local version of the popular game tug-of-war and played by women in their colorful traditional attire. Teer Andazi is archery and one of the popular games at the festival that’s played by locals with bows and arrows made with native materials.

The Matsya Festival also includes Alwar Darshan of local sightseeing which helps tourists get a closer look at the lifestyles and customs of the local populace and the popular tourist destinations of Alwar. An archeology exhibition called Dharohar is also held at the festival destination. Children can take part in the drawing and essay competitions held on the occasion. This year children enjoyed some of the best movies made especially for them at the Children’s film festival held on the 2nd day of the Matsya Festival. Shehnai-wadan or flute recital by eminent artists is one of the highlights of the festival. There are many other types of competition and contests involving native folk dances, songs and music that keep the audiences enthralled for two whole days.

Before you attend the festival, book comfortable and hassle-free travel plans with us to enjoy the natural blessings and explore more of Rajasthan. Browse through our collection of Rajasthan tour packages.

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The fair is held on the banks of a lake located at Kolayat near Bikaner in Rajasthan. Kolayat fair 2017 will be held from November 2 to November 4.

The Kolayat Fair of Bikaner holds great importance for the locals who eagerly await it. Tourists also experience a great time, as the fair is celebrated on an expansive scale. Also known as ‘Kapil Muni Fair’, it is held in the month of November. The pomp and show of the fair is not its only attraction as it also possesses great religious significance. A large number of devotees visit the fair to take a holy dip in the Kolayat Lake. It is believed that a holy dip can absolve them of all their sins.

It is annually held on Kartik Purnima tithi, or the full moon day, in Kartik month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar in Rajasthan. The fair is held on the banks of a lake located at Kolayat near Bikaner in Rajasthan. Kolayat fair 2017 will be held from November 2 to November 4.

The fair is held at the shrine dedicated to Sage Kapila or Kapil Muni. He is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, especially in this region.

It is believed that the sage performed prayers at a peepal tree located near the shrine. The tree still exists in the temple complex. The historical significance of the fair also lures a large number of tourists. As history says, the place of Kolayat is also regarded as Kapilayatan. Moreover, these names are also found in the holy scriptures of Puranas.

During the Fair, all the 52 ghats are beautifully decorated. Attractive lights impart a great look to these ghats. On visiting, you will also be able to witness the various rituals performed by the devotees. These devotees also offer prayers along with sweetmeats, milk pudding and sugar drops to the deity.

There are a number of other features of Kolayat Fair that impart a lot of attractiveness to the fair. The Kolayat Fair Bikaner boasts a mesmerizing view when all the devotees gather at a common point and leave oil lamps to float in the calm waters of the lake. It is a great sight for the tourists to see hundreds of lighted lamps floating in the water of the lake.

Before you attend the festival, book comfortable and hassle-free travel plans with us to enjoy the natural blessings and explore more of Rajasthan. Browse through our collection of Rajasthan tour packages.

Pushkar Mela, a huge carnival and a great opportunity to witness the colors, aromas, and mood of an old traditional style Indian festival.

PUSHKAR FAIR

The Pushkar Fair (Pushkar Camel Fair) or Pushkar Mela, as it is locally known as, is an annual weeklong camel and livestock fair held in the town of Pushkar between the months of October and November. It is one of the world’s largest camel fairs. Apart from the buying and selling of livestock, it has become an important tourist attraction. Competitions such as the ‘matka phod’, ‘longest moustache’ and ‘bridal competition’ are the main draws for this fair which attracts thousands of tourists. In recent years, the fair has also included an exhibition cricket match between the local Pushkar Club and a team of foreign tourists.

The sand dunes of Pushkar appear in the carnival mood. There is a huge inflow of pilgrims, camel traders, and tourists. It is a fascinating sight, and a great opportunity to witness the colors, aromas, and mood of an old traditional style Indian festival. A huge carnival is held. There are musicians, dancers, acrobats, magicians, snake charmers, rides and food stalls to entertain the guests. The festival highlights are temple dancing, folk and classical music, and arts and crafts bazaar as well.

When is the Fair Celebrated?

The Pushkar Fair is celebrated every year on the holy Kartik Purnima. The full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik has been known to be very auspicious. Pilgrims from far and wide come to take a dip in the holy waters of the Pushkar Lake and pray to Lord Brahma. In 2017, the official dates for the Pushkar Fair are from October 28th to November 04th.

The festival is an extravagant occasion as it is a major tourist attraction. The festival celebrates colors, music, dances, food and competitions besides letting tourists enjoy the beautiful golden sand dunes. Create unforgettable memories of the lifetime when you attend the festival, it is a sensory feast.

It is possible to witness the spectacle of the camel fair from up in the sky, in a hot air balloon. There are tour companies which offer exhilarating hot-air-balloon flights over Pushkar. Savor the beautiful sight of the desert landscape in the early sunrise hour or any time of the day. An International Hot Air Balloon Festival is also organized during the fair.

Before you attend the festival, book comfortable and hassle-free travel plans with us to enjoy the natural blessings and explore more of Rajasthan. Browse through our collection of Rajasthan tour packages.